respect + compassion + mutual responsibility
past challenge
Fall 2010 - 100 Acts of Kindness
We believe that there are lots of good deeds being done out there. We wanted to hear about some of them. We asked to gather 100 acts of kindness here on our web site. It could be as small as a young child sharing a toy or as big as saving a life - or anything in between.
Fall 2010 Challege-100 Acts of Kindness
Efrat Armon - 11/7/10
I went and sat with a girl who was sitting all alone at lunch. None of my friends would come, but I went anyway.
Anonymous - 10/19/10
One day I was at school and someone had spilled their glass of water and didn't clean it up. Then my friend Hannah came with her water and dessert and she fell and hurt her back. I ran over to help her! My teacher came over and brought her to the nurses office. It was a big mess yet myself, my friends Mariam and Cassidy stayed behind and were the only ones who stayed back and cleaned up! After that we went upstairs and visited Hannah in the lunch room. I just wanted to thank my friends so much for staying and working together to clean the mess up faster!(:
Laura - 10/18/10
This is a small one...but when I went to the grocery store, I got in the "scan your own" checkout, and while my mom was talking on her cell, I bagged the older gentleman's groceries who was in line behind us, before he could see, and then left. I hope it made him smile :)
Anonymous - 10/13/10
The other day I was driving home and happened to come upon an accident (head on collision) just moments after it had occured. I stopped to call 911 and see if anyone needed help as I am CPR certified. A bystander who had witnessed the accident was there sitting on the ground with one of the victims (whom she has just dragged from her smoking car). As my phone had been used to call the victim's family, I needed to stay and wait for them to call back. I was on scene while police, fire, ambulance etc all came and did their jobs taking care of the 3 victims and managing the scene. The entire time the bystandar sat with the injured woman, holding her hand, speaking reassuringly to her and talking her through the pain as she waited for the EMTs to work on her. The injured woman clung to her hand and hung on her words - her relief at having a "friend" with her was palpable. Once the injured woman was in the ambulance, the bystander gave her statement to police and left. I was still there as my car was now blocked in by rescue vehicles - so I was there when the family arrived. They didn't get to meet the woman who sat with their loved one, nor did the bystander get to meet the family. What she did was completely selfless as it is likely the the victim and her family will not even learn the name of the woman who was such a comfort at such a difficult time.
Sue - 10/13/10
A friend of mine told me this story, and asked me to post it. Her daughter had just moved here from China, didn't speak a word of english, and was starting school at the middle school. The girl was so nervous her ears were buzzing, she was fighting tears, and felt like she was in an ocean, drowning. The girl who was supposed to be her shadow showed her the bathroom, and ran away. During the day, a girl in one of her classes made eye contact with her, smiled and waved to her. For some reason this tiny, small gesture meant so much to her, it gave her the courage to keep going back. She realized from this that there were kind people out there, and she was yet to meet them.
Sue C. - 9/30/10
Cooked a bread pudding for a friend who hurt her thumb
Sammi - 9/29/10
At school another kid was reading a book that I really wanted to read and he shared it with me.
Caleb – 9/29/10
One time when my friend was playing a game and I wanted to play and another friend and others wanted to play, he let them all join.
Mara – 9/29/10
My friend was climbing and got hurt and I made sure she was ok and I got her mom.
Leah – 9/29/10
Tuesday my friend saw that another friend didn't have a snack, so my friend shared her extra snack.
Erica – 9/29/10
At the library I found a book, but someone else really wanted it so I gave it to them instead.
Parker – 9/29/10
At school someone had a toy I really liked and he let me play with it before he even played with it.
Jasmine – 9/29/10
We were at the park and a little boy fell and broke his arm. His family wasn't there. My mom loaned them her phone to call them.
Madigan – 9/29/10
At the Big E there was a girl in line for kettle corn without enough money and no grown-up and I gave her $5.
Audrey – 9/29/10
This morning my teacher was a little sad because we couldn't make a good circle. The helper helped us get into a circle and when the teacher turned around she was much happier.
Sarah – 9/29/10
I was playing and someone wouldn't let another kid play and I said to let them play.
Anthony – 9/29/10
I was playing when someone asked to play with me and I let them.
Riley – 9/29/10
One time I shared my candy with other people.
Anonymous – 9/29/10
At recess I helped a child with disabilities and played with them.
Anonymous – 9/29/10
A kid missed his bus and I lent him my phone to call home.
Anonymous – 9/29/10
At school I shred my book.
Anonymous – 9/26/10
I was new at a sport so I was alone and two girls came and started talking to me and by the end of the practice I had two new friends!
Anonymous – 9/26/10
I raised $1,000 for a cure for Progeria.
Anonymous – 9/26/10
I grew my hair out for three years so that I could donate it to Locks of Love.
Anonymous – 9/26/10
My co-workers were very helpful and supportive when I started my new job.
Anonymous – 9/26/10
My little sister gave me a hug as soon as she saw me.
Anonymous – 9/26/10
Right now Integrity Martial Arts kids are volunteering at Loaves and Fishes.
Anonymous – 9/26/10
My confirmation class is raising money for families in Haiti.
Anonymous – 9/26/10
I was at the mall with my mom and a really nice lady was helping my mom at the cash register of Delia's. I asked my mom if we could get a cookie at Mrs. Fields next, and, as a joke, the lady said, "I love those cookies, get me one too." But my mom actually bought her a cookie and she said it made her day!
Anonymous – 9/26/10
Susan & Jackie are the driving force behind change in action and really made today possible. Amazing job!!
Anonymous – 9/26/10
Troop 108 participates in the Scantic Spring Splash (that collects food for the Enfield Food Shelf).
Bruce – 9/26/10
Many youth from our community took the initiative to make the change….for a new, brighter, future.
Maddie Neiman - 9/17/10
Last night I went to see a CocoRosie concert in Northampton (which was amazing). At the end of the show people were fighting over these pieces of paper on stage that had the play list on them. I was just hanging back and avoiding the chaos when a girl got one and gave it to me. She was with a group of college kids and they were touched that I was there with my mom. That made my whole night and I've thought about that kind act ever since last night and just how beautiful a deed it was.
Laura Marsh - 9/15/10
I had a really short day at clinical my first day, so I was driving home at around noon, and this woman was standing on the side of Rt9 in Hadley, desperately waving car jumper cables. She and her son were from out of town and didn't know anyone, and their car had died in a store parking lot. I saw her a bit late, but... I U-turned at the next street, came on back, and jumped her car. Took me 10 minutes, saved the rest of their day.
Hazel Masse - 9/15/10
I had a friend that hurt other friends so much that they did not want to be with her but I continued to try to befriend her until she started blaming me for things when I was not even around and then began to send me nasty e-mails. I began to avoid her also. She then became ill and could no longer drive and had to walk with a walker and was mostly housebound as no one would take her out to lunch.I heard about it and forgave her for past hurts so my little act of kindness is I pick her up at least once a week to go to lunch which she enjoys. This is how we all can go about building a better world. We can do it one kind act at a time, one shared smile or one uplifting word at a time. We can build a better world with each act of love we share and each good thing we do.
Aaron Neiman - 9/11/10
As someone who was once a freshman in his past life, I have been walking freshman to their classes, for the past two weeks. I will continue to do this until all of the freshman who would like my help know where all of their classes are.
Manon Blackman - 9/6/10
a couple days ago at lunch a new kid was sitting alone and we decided to go over and sit with him. turns out a lot of people were thinking the same thing so they joined us! so good to see that people care.
Max Kinne - 9/5/10
I was sitting in the guidance office last week when a freshman girl walked in who was having troubles with her schedule (after a brief conversation I found out she didn't have a "D" block class.) She was nervous, and wanted to see her guidance counselor (who happened to be the same as mine, Mr. Rosemond.) Although I was scheduled to talk to Mr. Rosemond next, I let the girl talk to him first because I figured that she needed him more than I did and I learned from past classes that seniors can either be scary or welcoming, and I hope I was the latter of the two.
Efrat Armon - 9/4/10
Friday at school there was a Sophomore sitting by himself. While debating with a friend whether we should ignore the warnings about switching table sections, two other Freshmen ignored the warnings and went and sat down with him. As soon as they were there more people came, and soon a kid who was sitting alone had five or six people sitting with him and talking and laughing with him. These two girls did their part to BE THE CHANGE!!
Taryn Choquette - 9/3/10
This week when we started school, all of the freshman looked really nervous, as usual. I watched as three different seniors showed some new kids around and got them settled in. It was really nice to see and I'm sure the freshman appreciated it!
Megan Casey - 8/26/10
i work at jelly belly's pools and spas and today during my shift a woman came in with flyers about her lost dog. before she could even ask i handed her the tape and told her pick any spot. while she was hanging the flyer a gentleman asked her if she had any more. the woman laughed and said follow me. i watched out the ...window as she brought him to a huge box full of the flyers. instantly, the gentlman grabbed a stack and assured her he'd have them all over southwick within the hour. they'd never met before, and now she has that many more people helping her search for her puppy, harley.
Mary-Kay O'Grady - 8/14/10
The other day I was working at Big Y, and an elderly woman in line had a large watermelon and a few other items in her carriage that were too heavy for her to lift onto the counter. She asked me if I could help her, and I said of course, but without hesitation the woman in front of her in line picked up all of the items she needed help with, and placed them on the counter for her. It was definitely an act of kindness :)
Also, my mom works at Spectrum Home Care in Longmeadow as a home care nurse. Many of her paitents are home-bound and cannot drive. On many occasions, my mom has gone to the pharmacy on her own time, to pick up medicaton for her paitents who have no one else to get it for them.
Belle Rita Novak - 8/9/10
One of the farmers at the Forest Park farmers' market died suddenly yesterday, the 8th of August. His family wasn't going to come to the market tomorrow, but so many people voluntarily picked produce, that they are coming to the market so it doesn't go to waste.
Aaron Neiman - 8/9/10
My boss has dedicated her entire career to distributing food to those who need it, and frequently spends time, even when she is off the clock, to accomplish this.
Nancy Gordon - 8/9/10
My 5 year old granddaughter had a birthday party and, instead of gifts, asked her friends to bring an unwrapped toy to donate. (And she felt good about it!) Acts of kindness are learned from parents...
Jane Brodbar - 8/9/10
My 16 year old daughter volunteers with Circle of Life - helping kids with cancer and their families. I have no idea how she does it - maybe 'cause I'm a mom it just makes me weepy even writing it. It's a wonderful organization. http://www.thecircleofcare.org/
Sheri Levson - 8/9/10
Last Saturday I put out a "help" email because we HAD to get out of our house and wouldn't be able to do it alone. 14 friends showed up throughout the day to pack, load and unload cars, get us lunch, clean, and get us moved. It was VERY moving (pun intended!).
Taryn Choquette - 8/7/10
Today while I was in Maine with Mary Kay, the girl who was in the stall next to her in the public bathroom dropped her ipod. Although it was a little awkward, Mary Kay reached under the wall to return the ipod with its rightful owner. It was for sure, an act of kindness (:
Jackie Neiman - 8/3/10
OK I didn't want to be the first but this is too good not to share. Today I asked someone for a very big favor on behalf of our organization and without hesitation they said "yes". There are some wonderfully generous people in our town!